Do YOU have a healthy sense of self?  I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve read and heard of celebrity relationships failing, health issues, depressions and anxieties. Not that it really matters to me, but it seems strange that people often see celebrities and superstars as special people, living a charmed life of riches and glamor, perfect health, perfect relationships, etc. It’s a romanticized view of life to think that all it takes is fame, money and all that provides.

It’s very important to me to encourage people to not lose their ‘sense of self’.  This is a crucial piece around feeling successful, prosperous and on target with your goals.

So what does it take to feel grounded in your sense of self? Here are a few ideas for you to consider…

1. Know your purpose

Are you wandering through life with little or no direction – hoping that you’ll find happiness, health and prosperity? Identify your life purpose or mission statement and you will have your own unique compass that will lead you to YOUR truth.

This may seem a wee bit difficult at first when you see yourself to be stuck in a rut and unsure of the road out. But there’s always a little escape clause (you just have to find it!) to turn things around and you can make a big difference to yourself.

2. Know your values

What do you value most? Make a list of your top 5 values. Some examples are security, freedom, family, spiritual development, learning. As you set your goals – check them against your values. If the goal doesn’t align with any of your top five values – you may want to reconsider it or revise it.

3. Know your needs

Unmet needs can keep you from living authentically. Take care of yourself FIRST. Do you have a need to be acknowledged, to be right, to be in control, to be loved? There are so many people who lived their lives without realizing their dreams and most of them end up being stressed or even depressed for that matter. List your top five needs and get them met before it’s too late!

It’s so important to not only know what your needs are but to get them MET for and within yourself… An example I often give my clients is this – if I have a personal need to be loved and accepted and yet I cannot love and accept myself first… I open the door for a dysfunctional relationship – now that’s not to say you don’t enjoy the love and acceptance of another – but their love and acceptance of you is a BONUS rather than a necessity!

4. Live from the inside out

Increase your awareness of your inner wisdom by regular silent reflection. Spend time in nature. Breathe deeply to quiet a distracted mind. For many of us, it can be difficult to find the peace and quiet we want even in our own home. So I encourage you to explore ways that you can regularly have some quality alone quiet time (even if it’s only 10-20 minutes) each day – it will make a profound difference!

5. Honor your strengths

What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three – if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, and good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

6. Serve others

When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit – your essence. The reward for sharing your gift with those around you is very rewarding.

Personal development is definitely something that is totally worth it! It should not feel like a destination to you, rather an enjoyable journey with lots to see and discover along the way. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.